GOLDEN JUBILEE OF CANONISATION OF SAINT JULIE BILLIART....
May 2019
Scotland celebrated as we remembered Fifty Years of recognised Sainthood of Julie Billiart,
Foundress of the Congregation of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur.
Many appreciated the fact that Julie’s family were present in Rome for the occasion of the Canonisation. These descendants resembled the photos of Julie and these members had pride of place in the front row. Also present was the young Brazilian man, Otacilio Ribeiro da Salva who, by the intercession of Julie was cured from his large Tumour. Our German Cousins (Notre Dame Sisters ) nursed him in their hospital in Brazil and prayed for him throughout the night, only to realise in the morning that this cure was matter for the Second Miracle, needed for the process of Julie’s Canonisation. On that day in Rome, 1969, Otacilio brought with him from Brazil, Julie his daughter of 14 years.
(born after his cure.) ! Indeed God was Good!
Banners representing where the sisters are currently serving
Amidst great jubilation and rejoicing, many memories of that special day, flooded the minds, especially of those sisters who were present in St Peter’s Square, Rome, on that hot, sunny, and crowd filled day on 22 nd June 1969, when Pope Paul VI declared Blessed Julie as Saint Julie Billiart.
Some sisters remembered many details, when thousands of pilgrims from all over the world, sang loud and clear in different languages that God is good. Blessed Julie who had been Beatified by Pope Pius X in 1906, had now been hailed as Saint. Two sisters remembered being there for that special occasion, (both students then) as they had both written good essays about Julie, which merited award. Other sisters who could not be present remembered the hundreds of school pupils and teachers from all over Scotland who crowded into St Andrew’s Metropolitan Cathedral, Glasgow for a Thanksgiving Eucharist.
The Sisters of Notre Dame who were present at the Jubilee Celebration
Many representatives from various congregations of Notre Dame, who claim Julie as their spiritual foundress were present in the Great Basilica of St Peter’s. Two former Mothers General and the present one at that time from the Namur Branch were there to witness this outstanding spiritual event. They were Mère Josepha from Belgium, Sister Loretto Julia from USA and Sister Mary Linscott, the then Mother General, of the Congregation of Notre Dame de Namur.
Indeed it was a perfect day when Julie, the peasant woman from Cuvilly in North France, was recognised by the Church for her outstanding sanctity, her strong faith, her courage and zeal in founding a Religious Congregation which was apostolic in essence. ( 1804 ).
For those who knew of Julie’s life, one was always aware of her great gift of holiness. Stories of her being allowed to make her First Holy Communion in private at an earlier age than most, pointed to her as a child of remarkable sanctity.
St Julie’s vision of carrying the Good News of God’s Goodness to the ends of the world has been and is continuing to be fulfilled, as Sisters and Associates minister in Five different Continents ..... Europe, Asia, Africa, USA, and South America.
Today as in early times, Sisters through their ministry of Education proclaim to all peoples that God is Good. Many admire the Smiling Saint and pray to our Wonderful Saint who knew how to remain in God’s Presence ..... As Always with Her, we say ......
A Qu’il est Bon, le Bon Dieu!
Text and photos provided by
Maureen Coyle, snd